The Maha Bodhi Temple under the provisions of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act 1949 has been under the control of Hindus, even though this is the "Mecca" of Buddhism. The provisions call for 4 Buddhist members on the Board, 4 Hindus, and a Chairman who must be Hindu, effectively making it majority Hindu control. Now a Public Interest Litigation has been filed by a Buddhist in India to attempt to finally bring the Temple to Buddhist control.

Anagarika Dharmapala, founder of the Maha Bodhi Society spent most of his life attempting to get the Temple and area under Buddhist control, but never got to see it happen. Hopefully his dream may finally come true.

The share with Hindus is maybe some more buddhistic. Wish all that there are not more steps as nessesary. Maybe it would be real merit to make a step aside and give those in "need".

Just that! *smile*...We Buddhists must find the courage to leave our temples and enter the temples of human experience, temples that are filled with suffering. If we listen to Buddha, Christ, or Gandhi, we can do nothing else. The refugee camps, the prisons, the ghettos, and the battlefields will become our temples. We have so much work to do. ... Peace is Possible! Step by Step. - Samtach Preah Maha Ghosananda "Step by Step" http://www.ghosananda.org/bio_book.html

BUT! it is important to become a real Buddhist first. Like Punna did: Punna Sutta Nate sante baram sokham _()_

These places are rather meaningful for visitors. I hope these are not just created (by someone) for pilgrims. Are these the actual places of the ‘seven weeks’? Does anyone know how scholars/archeologists find out the seven places?

I don't think the other stories / legends are there. I read in a blog by Ven. Dhammika that the other things were added by legend (or perhaps they are in the commentaries?) to add to the allure of the significance of this spot.

Even if they are just legends, the significance of this spot is already good enough for me, the first turning of the new dispensation, of a new samma-sam-Buddha and his full enlightenment, the start of a new Dhamma era.

The spire of the heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara will soon be covered in gold.Devotees from Thailand will donate 100kg of the yellow metal to Buddhism’s holiest shrine, which was rocked by a series of explosions last month.At today’s prices, the cost of the gold needed would be approximately Rs 33 crore.More here

Bhikkhus, if you develop and make much this one thing, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction. What is it? It is recollecting the Enlightened One. If this single thing is recollected and made much, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction.Anguttara-Nikaya: Ekanipata: Ekadhammapali: PañhamavaggaVSMVMMWBBTBHTWTBTMy Page

I discovered that there are conflicting media reports on how much gold was involved. Ranging from 100-300kg... Looks like some have gone ahead of myself... here

Bhikkhus, if you develop and make much this one thing, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction. What is it? It is recollecting the Enlightened One. If this single thing is recollected and made much, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction.Anguttara-Nikaya: Ekanipata: Ekadhammapali: PañhamavaggaVSMVMMWBBTBHTWTBTMy Page

Why are we surprised that there are conflicting media reports - maybe I could respectfully suggest that what they don’t know they soon invent.

in response to the second link provided in the thread -

The descendants of those who put food in the bowl of the Buddha will benefit because it will increase the number of people who come to the temple. That is not to say that I think the a gold coating will be advantageous for the development of any Buddhist who go there; nor do I necessarily believe that it will aid with the dissemination of true dhamma.

It is also a fact that the Royal family in Thailand has worked, and continues to work very hard for the poor and disadvantaged in Thailand - which is reflected in the high regard that the family is held in by the "Hill peoples' and the Isaan people that i know.

I think there are two projects. One is to put gold leaf on a spire and the gold has been donated by Thai people (100 Kg)......and one is to put gold on a dome and the gold has been donated by His Majesty the King of Thailand (300Kg).chownah

Several Buddhist temples and monasteries have been built by the people of Bhutan, China, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam in a wide area around the Mahabodhi Temple. These buildings reflect the architectural style, exterior and interior decoration of their respective countries. The statue of Buddha in the Chinese temple is 200 years old and was brought from China. Japan's Nippon temple is shaped like a pagoda. The Myanmar (Burmese) temple is also pagoda shaped and is reminiscent of Bagan. The Thai temple has a typical sloping, curved roof covered with golden tiles. Inside, the temple holds a massive bronze statue of Buddha. Next to the Thai temple is 25 meter statue of Buddha [9] located within a garden which has existed there for over 100 years.

5. And the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Ānanda, saying: “Ānanda, the twin sala trees are in full bloom, though it is not the season of flowering. And the blossoms rain upon the body of the Tathāgata and drop and scatter and are strewn upon it in worship of the Tathāgata. And celestial coral flowers and heavenly sandalwood powder from the sky rain down upon the body of the Tathāgata, and drop and scatter and are strewn upon it in worship of the Tathāgata. And the sound of heavenly voices and heavenly instruments makes music in the air out of reverence for the Tathāgata.”

“Yet it is not thus, Ānanda, that the Tathāgata is respected, venerated, esteemed, worshipped, and honoured in the highest degree. But, Ānanda, whatever bhikkhu or bhikkhuṇī, layman or laywoman, abides by the Dhamma, lives uprightly in the Dhamma, walks in the way of the Dhamma, it is by such a one that the Tathāgata is respected, venerated, esteemed, worshipped, and honoured in the highest degree. Therefore, Ānanda, thus should you train yourselves: 'We shall abide by the Dhamma, live uprightly in the Dhamma, walk in the way of the Dhamma.”

A large portion of the gold appears to be donated by lay devotees; not all from the King. If it inspires people to practice to have a beautiful temple, why not? The Shwedagon Pagoda and many other Buddhist temples have gold and gold plating. This is the Maha Bodhi Temple, the most significant place in Buddhism, the site of the Tathagata's enlightenment. I think it is great.